The Salar

Jenna and I arrived in Uyuni, Bolivia on Monday evening with time to find a hostel and book an adventure through south Bolivia. We were sent to see Jehnel, a kind Boliviana, from the company Incahuasi. For $90 USD we were confirmed a three day two night trip including lodging and all meals. Bolivia IS cheap!!

The trip began with an introduction to our adventure companions Vickie and Joris from Belgum. The four of us piled into the Lexus SUV with Roberto, our driver, and Maga, our cook. The first day we visited a railroad graveyard and then drove through the desert to the Salar. We hiked to the top of La Isla Pescada and then had a delicious lunch. After lunch we spent hours taking fun, though sometimes inappropriate, photos of each other in the vast white salt plains. The first night we stayed in a beautiful salt hotel and continued to enjoy the company of Vickie and Joris.

The second day we visited several lagunas with pink flamingos and saw beautiful volcanos and rock formations. Then came the days great event.... a rock in the radiator!! For an hour and a half we hung out in the middle of the desert with half the engine of our coche lying in the sand. Fortunately all it took was five stoped coches - with all of their tourists watching -, donated water, and some chewed chicle to fix the radiator. Unfortunately the rum was packed too deep on our roof top rack for us to fully enjoy the repairs.

That evening an international group of new friends, Brazil, Canada, France, and of course our Belgums, gathered around and taught each other card games. We had located bottle of cheap rum.

Our final day began with a sunrise trip to the geysers and then an early morning soak in the hot springs by Laguna Verde. After breakfast we drove our new favorite couple to the frontera de Chile where they were off to find a new bottle of rum and mischief to spread. The drive back to Uyuni took the remainder of the day and once there we borded our next bus to Potosi. Four days in Bolivia and I was still hoping to see a paved road!!